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<\/a><\/p>\nBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 14: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics reacts after scoring a basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the preseason game at the TD Garden on October 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Big Fella University Takes<\/p>\n
\u201cQueta wins 6th man of the year.\u201d PDCeltics<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a cleaned-up version that keeps your tone and structure while smoothing the flow and fixing spelling:<\/p>\n
This is the season where Neemias Queta seeks to earn tenure at Big Fella University. Questions around Queta\u2019s quality and consistency from last offseason feel as though they were voiced a long time ago. According to DataBallr, Boston was 6.3 points per 100 possessions better defensively last year when Queta took the court, and he played his part offensively too, scoring an efficient 10 points a night while doing all the big-man basics that helped facilitate higher-usage offensive players. Neemy was pivotal to Boston on both sides of the floor last year.<\/p>\n
Rewarded with a $56 million extension, Queta is here to stay, but preseason outings against Charlotte and Philadelphia have suggested that he will take up a new role on this year\u2019s C\u2019s. No coach has employed the \u201cHack-a-Mitch\u201d ploy more frequently than Mazzulla over the past couple of seasons. To avoid endless trips to the charity stripe in the final two minutes of quarters, it seems Robinson will be the nominal starter for the Celtics this year, opening up an opportunity for Queta to compete for a major accolade.<\/p>\n
As it stands, the Portuguese big man can\u2019t be found on either the short or long lists of Sixth Man of the Year candidates. Payton Pritchard has short odds at +400, so in fairness to PDCeltics, this is a hot take.<\/p>\n
The case for Queta competing for the award would be an analytically driven one. I\u2019d have to expect him to post magnificent on\/off or EPM numbers, while also coming up with huge plays in pivotal moments, to truly vie for honors. Queta\u2019s game doesn\u2019t resemble those of the other bench big men who have walked away with the Sixth Man trophy. Naz Reid and Montrezl Harrell were spark plugs of sorts, with a unique proclivity for juicing an offense. Queta didn\u2019t drag Boston\u2019s offensive rating down when he was on the floor last year, but he didn\u2019t accentuate it either.<\/p>\n
The last true-blue big man to win the award for doing big-man things was Roy Tarpley in 1987\u201388. Queta winning would represent a landmark shift in how the award is judged. For that reason, while I think Queta could be one of the very best bench players in the league this year, his chances of winning 6MOY are rightly astronomical.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe platoon of Queta and Robinson gives the Celtics the best 48-minute center combination outside of Denver and San Antonio.\u201d Geno-Time<\/p>\n
Geno-Time would make a great analyst. This is a brilliant level of hot take. It\u2019s sufficiently spicy but I believe it bares real scrutiny. The Celtics are looking to imitate the success of their former Finals opponents, the 2024 Dallas Mavericks, with their big-man tandem of Robinson and Queta. Neither Robinson nor Queta possesses the skill set to vie for an All-Star berth, but together they provide an insanely high floor at the five for Boston. I\u2019ll list a few other tandems and rotations below that I think are worthy of consideration once you take Denver and San Antonio out of the equation:<\/p>\n
Alperen Sengun and Steven AdamsDonovan Clingan and Rob Williams IIINaz Reid, Moussa Diabate and Ryan KalkbrennerRudy Gobert and Joan BeringerIsaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren and Aday Mara<\/p>\n
In my view, all of the above rotations possess more raw talent than Boston\u2019s frontcourt. Injury concerns surrounding Steven Adams and Rob Williams, however, raise real questions about their ability to outplay Neemy and Mitch over the course of a season. The likes of Beringer and Aday Mara are also unproven at the NBA level, so there\u2019s certainly an argument that Boston will have a true top-tier rotation at center this season.<\/p>\n
The key to Robinson and Queta providing more value than the bigs above lies with Boston\u2019s stars. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving unlocked Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, two non-All-Star bigs, to great effect, helping them outperform their individual talent level and making the Dallas frontcourt imperious throughout the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think Queta and Robinson will be the third-best big-man rotation in the league this year, but if they are, expect either the best season of Jayson Tatum\u2019s career or a major leap from the subject of our next take to be the key to their success.<\/p>\n
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics sit on the bench during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n The Payton Pritchard Takes<\/p>\n \u201cPayton Pritchard is named to the All-Star team as a coach selection or injury replacement.\u201d Larksnado<\/p>\n PPayton winning Sixth Man of the Year isn\u2019t a hot enough take to qualify for this list, so we have to skip a few steps and get into real Sean Evans, make-your-head-explode territory. Larksnado\u2019s claim that Pritch makes his first All-Star team this year is one I\u2019ve considered and investigated in seasons prior.<\/p>\n Fans and analysts alike have suggested for years that Pritchard, a game-breaking college guard who has improved in each of his six NBA seasons, could possess the requisite skills to make the jump from high-impact player to perimeter star in the same way Jalen Brunson has since taking up residence in NYC.<\/p>\n To figure out Pritchard\u2019s chances of making an All-Star team, we can look at a few different things. Firstly, let\u2019s consider his competition for places in the East ahead of the upcoming season. Here\u2019s a list of Payton\u2019s stiffest competition:<\/p>\n Jalen BrunsonTyrese HaliburtonCade CunninghamJames HardenDonovan MitchellTyrese MaxeyDesmond BaneDerrick WhiteTyler HerroCoby WhiteNickeil Alexander-Walker<\/p>\n If healthy, Brunson, Cunningham, Mitchell and Maxey are close to guarantees for places on the All-Star roster. I haven\u2019t included Haliburton in that group because we can\u2019t be 100% certain that he returns to his pre-injury level, but his name can at least be pencilled in.<\/p>\n That leaves Harden and Herro, both former All-Stars who will be in contention, followed by Derrick White, Coby White, Bane and Alexander-Walker, all of whom occupy a similar position to Pritchard, on the outside looking in. Typically, there are a maximum of six guards selected per conference, but with injury replacements we could argue that number might rise to seven next season. Crucially, I believe every player listed above is more likely to start for their respective team. Starting leads to usage, usage leads to points, and points lead to All-Star recognition.<\/p>\n The scenario in which Pritchard makes the All-Star team looks something like this: it becomes clear within the opening ten games that Boston needs Pritch as Tatum\u2019s legitimate second option when the two share the floor, as well as the primary option for bench units. That leads to a spike in usage into genuine All-Star territory.<\/p>\n Of the last 14 guards to make their first All-Star appearance, only Fred VanVleet (23.7%) and Tyrese Haliburton (23.8%) posted a usage rate below 27.1%. Pritchard\u2019s career-high usage came last year, when he posted a rate of 21.6%, so we would need to see Payton empowered to a degree that he hasn\u2019t yet come close to before.<\/p>\n Whilst that makes Pritchard\u2019s All-Star case seem a little far fetched his lineup data with JB on the court last year is proof that he can play at an All-Star level:<\/p>\n Stat (per 75 possessions) USG% PTS AST REB TOV TS% 3P% +\/- Payton Pritchard’s 2025\u201326 numbers with and without Jaylen Brown on the floor. Source: DataBallr.<\/p>\n If Pritchard keeps up that form in non-Jayson lineups this year and assumes an Austin Reaves like role alongside Tatum there\u2019s a chance that Larksnado is looking awfully smart come February this season.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul George will play more games than LeBron James\u201d Jeff Clark (That\u2019s right, the Jeff Clark!)<\/p>\n Jeff was too kind commenting this on the Feed. This could be an article unto itself, and I\u2019m sure it\u2019s something we\u2019re all rooting for heading into the season.<\/p>\n The numbers don\u2019t look good. Over the last five years, LeBron has played 73 more regular-season games than George, with PG13 missing half the season or more in each of his last two seasons.<\/p>\n I believe Jeff\u2019s take is rooted in the idea of role difficulty and need. George is entering his seventeenth season, and I believe the last time he had this little on-ball responsibility was his sophomore NBA season, fifteen years ago. George has already done some interesting stuff as a point forward for Boston in the preseason, but first and foremost I expect him to be a plus role player this year.<\/p>\n Hit the role-player shots, switch on defence, occasionally create off the bounce. Games played aren\u2019t all the same. George shouldn\u2019t be required to take on the most physical assignment on any given night this year. He\u2019ll have the widest driving lanes to the rim that he\u2019s experienced since the bubble, minimising the contact that can lead to awkward landings or contact injuries. George can be nursed through the season with a view to contributing each night and building towards playoff impact.<\/p>\n LeBron James, on the other hand, is still, even at 42 years old, LeBron James. Contact at the rim is inevitable. On-ball responsibility, touches and physicality are all givens when your talents, even in year twenty-four, still command the ball. I believe Jeff has read James\u2019 sciatica quotes, empathised, factored in his usage and come to the conclusion that an injury could be on the horizon for James this year, whereas George might simply avoid that same level of wear and tear.<\/p>\n The theory that James will sit more often because of Philadelphia\u2019s star power is also worth considering. With stars in their prime around him, LeBron can afford to skip back-to-backs and manage his schedule, just as his co-star Joel Embiid will. We know Boston will seek to strangle the regular season, and we know Philadelphia will seek to survive it.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul George will be NBA Finals MVP\u201d C\u2019s the day (Great username)<\/p>\n Paul George calling \u201cBall Game\u201d in the biggest game of his career would perhaps be the highlight of my NBA watching life and a worth while ending to my favoutite Basketball GIF of all time. Lets pray for this one.<\/p>\n \u201cJT starts a Twitch stream\u201d Celts4life<\/p>\n The man has an eight year old son. Streaming with Speed feels like a before kids activity.<\/p>\n \u201cJaylen Brown gets married this year.\u201d Celtics_fan_in_va<\/p>\n Could this be the end of the stream as we know it?<\/p>\n \u201cKP and Horford retire at the end of the season\u201d Celtics_fan_in_va<\/p>\n I thought KP retired in 2024?<\/p>\n \u201cHugo Gonzales marries Steve Jobs\u2019 widow and buys the Celtics.\u201d Saint Stephen<\/p>\n Lauren Powell Jobs has three kids and hasn\u2019t remarried since Jobs\u2019 death in 2011. Powell would also have to sell her 20% stake in the Washington Wizards to make this happen but let\u2019s be honest\u2026 Who wouldn\u2019t for Hugo?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWith Jaylen
1,665 mins
\nWithout Jaylen
861 mins<\/p>\n
\n18.5%
\n27.2%<\/p>\n
\n16.8
\n26.7<\/p>\n
\n5.3
\n7.6<\/p>\n
\n4.4
\n5.3<\/p>\n
\n1.3
\n2.4<\/p>\n
\n56.6%
\n60.6%<\/p>\n
\n36.1%
\n39.9%<\/p>\n
\n4.2
\n9.6<\/p>\n